Golf shoe accouterment

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for attachment to a golf shoe that includes a golf ball marker receiver element and an opening that allows the shoe lace to pass through for attaching the apparatus to the shoe. A golf shoe that has such an apparatus is also disclosed.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present invention claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/477,284, filed Jun. 10, 2003, which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] FIELD of INVENTION

[0003] This invention relates generally to the field of shoeaccouterments and shoes that use such accouterments. More particularly,this invention provides an accouterment, or device, that attachestypically to a golf shoe that further allows for the carrying of atleast one golf accessory along the golf shoe. A golf shoe that employssuch a device is also disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0004] In the game of golf, various golf accessories invariably arecarried with the golfer. These may include accessories such as golftees, ball marker, golf balls, scorecard and pencil, divot tool, golfglove, and the like. Often, as is the case, a golfer will carry thesegolf accessories in his, or her, pockets. Often, other non-golf itemsare carried in the pockets as well, such as vehicle keys, wallet,handkerchief, currency, coins, pocket knife, and the like. Clearly, thisresults in overly crowded pockets, wasted time in searching the pocketsfor the desired accessory, or the loss of one, or more of the variousgolf accessories or non-golf items.

[0005] Also, in the case of using the golf tee, ball marker, and/ordivot tool, once found in the pocket, there is an additional time spentin first removing the accessory from the pocket, and, second, thenbending down to place the golf accessory on the ground for its intendeduse. For albeit, only a brief period of time, one cannot typicallyremove any item from their pocket while in a squatted down or bent overposition. One usually is standing straight up while searching and/orremoving items from their pockets.

[0006] Additionally, golfers are also always searching for ways toimprove their golf game and score. Inter alia, one way to aid inimproving a golfer's score is to improve the accuracy of the swing.Swing accuracy, likewise, can be enhanced by improving the alignment ofthe golfer's body, and feet in particular, in its relationship to thegolf ball upon addressing (i.e., preparing to swing and hit) the golfball.

[0007] Accordingly, there is a need for an improvement over existinglocations of storing various golf accessories, as well as, as helpingthe golfer improve their golf swing accuracy.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0008] The present invention provides an apparatus and method forattaching golf accessories to a golf shoe.

[0009] A first general aspect of the invention provides an apparatuscomprising:

[0010] a golf ball marker receiver; and

[0011] an shoe attachment element, said element includes an openingconfigured to allow at least one golf shoe lace to pass through.

[0012] A second general aspect of the invention provides an apparatuscomprising:

[0013] a base;

[0014] a ball marker retainer; and

[0015] a plurality of arms extending from said base and connecting saidretainer to said base, thereby forming an opening, said openingconfigured to retain at least one golf shoe lace.

[0016] A third general aspect of the invention provides an apparatuscomprising:

[0017] a first receiving means configured to receive a golf ball marker;and

[0018] an attachment means configured for attaching said apparatus to atleast one golf shoe lace.

[0019] A fourth general aspect of the invention provides a golf shoecomprising:

[0020] an upper;

[0021] a sole; and

[0022] a golf ball marker receiver, wherein said receiver is attached tosaid shoe.

[0023] The foregoing and other features of the invention will beapparent from the following more particular description of variousembodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024] Some of the embodiments of this invention will be described indetail, with reference to the following figures, wherein likedesignations denote like members, wherein:

[0025]FIG. 1A depicts a side elevation view of an embodiment of a golfshoe accouterment, in accordance with the present invention;

[0026]FIG. 1B depicts a top view of a golf shoe accouterment, inaccordance with the present invention;

[0027]FIG. 2 depicts a front perspective view of an embodiment of a golfshoe accouterment being installed on a golf shoe, in accordance with thepresent invention;

[0028]FIG. 3 depicts a front perspective view of an embodiment of a golfshoe accouterment and the attachment of a plurality of golf accessoriesthereto, in accordance with the present invention;

[0029]FIG. 4 depicts the front perspective view in FIG. 2 with anembodiment of the golf shoe accouterment with the plurality of golfaccessories attached thereto, fully installed on a golf shoe, inaccordance with the present invention; and

[0030]FIG. 5 depicts a top view of a golfer addressing a golf ball andusing an embodiment of the golf shoe accouterment to aid in aligning thegolfer's swing, in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] Although certain embodiments of the present invention will beshown and described in detail, it should be understood that variouschanges and modifications may be made without departing from the scopeof the appended claims. The scope of the present invention will in noway be limited to the number of constituting components, the materialsthereof, the shapes thereof, the relative arrangement thereof, etc., andare disclosed simply as an example of an embodiment. Although thedrawings are intended to illustrate the present invention, the drawingsare not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0032] Turning to the Figures, FIGS. 1A and 1B, depict a side elevationand top view, respectively, of one embodiment of the invention, which isa golf shoe accouterment, hereafter referred to by a numeral 10. Theaccouterment, or device 10, as the embodiment shows, is configured toreadily hold at least one golfing accessory 30 (See e.g., FIG. 3). Thedevice 10, in turn, can be readily attached, and removed, from a typicalgolf shoe 50 (See e.g., FIG. 2). It should be apparent that although thefigures depict the device 10 in use with a golf shoe 50, that the device10 can be attached to other types of footwear, such as shoes, sneakers,in-line skates, hockey skates, sandals, and the like.

[0033] The device 10 may include a horizontal elongate base 11.Extending from the base 11 are two arms 16 which extend upwards awayfrom the base 11, connecting to each other and thereby forming a neck25. At the distal end of the neck 25 is a holding element 20. Theholding element 20 includes a receiving, or bearing surface 21 and areceiving opening 22. The holding element 20 is configured to receiveand hold a typical pronged ball marker (See e.g., FIG. 3). Furtherstrengthening the connection between the holder 20 and the neck 25 maybe a plurality of gussets 23 surrounding the receiving opening 22.

[0034] Optionally, located along the base 11 may be a channel 12extending transversely across the base 11. Also, various openings 13,and recesses 14 may be added in the base 11 and/or arms 16. The channel12, openings 13, and recesses 14 all may aid in the overall increasedflexibility of the device 10. The increased flexibility of the base 11and/or arms 16 will aid in the device 10 better conforming to the tongue53 of the shoe 50 (See e.g., FIG. 2) and the golfer's foot therebyrendering the device 10 more comfortable to the end user. For example,the channel 12 located midway along the base 11 will allow a slighthinging effect to take place along the base 11. This slight hinging maybe desirable in that the tongue 53 against which the base 11 bears is,typically, not perfectly planar. Similarly, the various openings 13and/or recesses 14 will assist in the flexing of the arms 16 inrelationship to the base 11.

[0035] The configuration between the holder 20, arms 16, and base 11together form an opening 15, or hole, through which may pass one, ormore, laces 52 (See e.g., FIG. 2) from the golf shoe 50. The hole 15 mayoffer a second purpose of providing an attachment location for a golfaccessory 30. The hole 15 in the embodiment shown is approximatelytriangular in shape.

[0036] Turning to FIG. 2 which depicts a front, perspective view of apartial installation process of the device 10 onto a golf shoe 50. Theview is shown prior to the attachment of any golf accessories 30 (e.g.,golf tee, ball marker, divot tool, etc.) to the device 10. The shoe 50is partially unlaced so as the laces 52 are not passed through all theeyelets 51. The device 10 is placed so that the bottom surface of thebase 11 faces, and is adjacent to, the shoe tongue 53. The laces 52 maybe first threaded through a set of eyelets 51 and placed over the lowerof the two arms 16B thereby aiding in adhering the device 10 to the shoe50. The laces 52 are further fed transversely across the device 10,through the opening 15, on to a next pair of eyelets 51. The laces 52may additionally be place over the upper of the two arms 16A as well andthreaded through the upper pairs of eyelets 51 (See e.g., FIG. 4). Inthis manner the arms 16A, 16B are approximately in alignment axiallywith the tongue 53 with the receiving surface 21 facing upward, awayfrom the shoe 50. Thus, the receiving surface 21 is approximatelyparallel with the tongue 53.

[0037] It should be apparent that although the golf shoe 50 discussedabove is laced, other golf shoes 50 can be used with the device 10.Clearly, a golf shoe 50 with a hook and loop fastener type strap, amechanical type strap, or other closure systems can be used wherein inlieu of feeding a lace 52 (as above) through the opening 15, the strap(not shown) can be threaded through the opening 15.

[0038] The installation of the device 10 in the aforementioned methodthus provides for a system wherein the device 10 cannot fall from theshoe 50 because of the threading of the laces 52 through a portion ofthe device 10 (e.g., opening 15). That is the device 10 is not held tothe shoe 50 and/or lace 52 solely via friction between the two. Themeans for holding the device 10 to the shoe 50 is more positive and isvirtually failsafe. The means for holding the device 10 to the shoe 50are multiple. First, the laces 52 passing through the opening 15 ensuresthe device 10 will not become disengaged from the shoe 50. The device 10entirely surrounds at least one lace 52. Second, the laces 52 also passover a portion, or portions, of the device 10 (e.g., arms 16) which addsfurther stability and adhesion between the shoe 50 and device 10. Third,the upward force of the golfer's foot against the tongue 53, in turn,causes the tongue 53 to exert pressure against the base 11. This upwardtongue 53 pressure against the underside of the device 10 in concertwith the downward pressure created by the tension of the laces 52further adds to the stability and unification between the device 10 andshoe 50. These various attachment, or holding, means together create aninvention that cannot become detached from the shoe 50. Also, the device10 will not rotate, slide about, or bounce about on the shoe 50. Foraside from the goal of keeping the device 10 attached to the shoe 50,the golfer does not want a distraction, whether visual, aural, or byfeel, during the game caused by the device 10 being loose.

[0039]FIG. 3 shows a exploded perspective view of the device 10 withthree golf accessories 30 (e.g., ball marker 30A, tee 30B, divot tool30C) being attached thereto. As depicted, a prong on the underside ofthe ball marker 30A is inserted within the marker receiver 22. Theunderside of the planar surface of the ball marker 30A bears on, or isadjacent to, the bearing surface 21. Second, the shaft of the golf tee30B can be inserted through the opening 15 so that the tee 30B residesnormal to the base 11. Third, the two prongs of the divot tool 30C canstraddle and bear against the neck 25. In all three accessories (30A,30B, 30C) a friction between the accessory 30 and the particular portionof the device 10 holds the accessory 30 to the device 10. It should beapparent that any one, two, or all three accessories (30A, 30B, 30C) maybe attached to the device 10 at any one time. An added convenience isthat any one accessory 30 may be readily added, or removed, from thedevice 10 without the need to removed, add, move, or disrupt any of theother attached accessories 30. Further, removal or addition of any ofthe accessories 30 from the device 10 does not disrupt or impinge uponthe attachment between the device 10 and the shoe 50.

[0040] An ancillary benefit of the device 10, as seen in FIG. 3, is thatby attaching the accessories 30 to the outside of the golf shoe 50 theaccessories 30 can be sort of tiny “billboard” for advertising duringthe golf game. For all three golf accessories 30A, 30B, 30C can beadorned with advertising, as shown via “ADV. #1”, “ADV. #2”, and “ADV.#3”, respectively. In lieu of, or in addition to, the advertising,artwork or other designs may be incorporated.

[0041] It should be apparent that other configurations and embodimentsof the invention are possible while still adhering to the intent of theinvention. Other opening 15 shapes are possible. The opening 15 could besquare, round, ovoid, and the like. Similarly, the openings 15 could bemultiple and/or sized to, or near to, the diameter of a lace 52.Additionally, there could be at least one first opening 15 for allowinglaces 52 to pass through, while there could be at least one secondopening 15 for retaining a golf tee 30B.

[0042] Further, the arms 16 could be other shapes, as well. For example,the arms 16 could be pie-shaped, square, and the like. Similarly, thebase 11 could be shaped other than elongate. The base 11 could berectangular, square, circular, and the like.

[0043] Additionally, there may be multiple ball retention elements 20configured on the device 10. For example, there may be could be two ballretention elements 20 situated distally from each other at either end ofthe base 11.

[0044] Clearly, a device 10 also could be located on both shoes 50.

[0045]FIG. 4 depicts the view in FIG. 2 with the device 10, fully loadedwith all three golf accessories 30A, 30B, 30C and with device 10 fullyattached to the shoe 50, the laces 52 being fully tied.

[0046] Turning to FIG. 5, which depicts a top view of a golfer 100addressing a golf ball 112 with a golf club 110 in hand. The golfer'sintended target is depicted with a 120. The golfer 100 can see withhis/her eye 101 the club 110, the ball 112, the intended target 120,his/her feet 102, and the device 10 attached to his/her shoe 50. In theembodiment shown, the golf tee 30B is attached to the device 10.

[0047] The likely trajectory of the ball is depicted as 115. As can beseen the golfer's intended target 120 is not in concert with thetrajectory 115. The trajectory 115 of the ball 112, in golf, is basedinter alia upon the body position of the golfer 100 in relationship tothe ball 112. A large part of the ultimate destination of the ball 112is also based upon how the golfer's feet 102 are spaced and located inrelationship to the ball 112 upon the contact of the club 110 before,during, and after the contact with the ball 112. An excellent visualindicator of the likely trajectory of the ball 112 is to see which waythe feet 102 are aligned. By using the device 10 with the golf tee 30Blocated thereon the golfer can see with better accuracy which wayhis/her feet 102 are pointed and aligned, and then better ascertain thelikely/anticipated ball trajectory 115. So, the golfer 100 by using thedevice 10 can see which way his/her feet 102 are aligned by seeing whichway the prong, or shaft, of the golf tee 30B is pointing. Thus, thegolfer 100 can more easily move his/her feet 102 to create a better, andmore accurate, alignment with the ball 102, ultimately resulting in amore accurate swing and golfshot.

[0048] An alternative embodiment, not shown, is where the device 10 isnot fully detachable from the golf shoe 50 (as discussed above), but isintegrated into part of the golf shoe 50. For example, the base 11 ofthe device 10 could be fixedly attached to, or manufactured as part of,the tongue 53 of the golf shoe 50. Alternatively, the device 10 could beintegrated with the golf shoe 50 upper so that it is adjacent to theeyelets 51.

[0049] While this invention has been described in conjunction with thespecific embodiments outlined above, it is evident that manyalternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art. Accordingly, the embodiments of the invention as setforth above are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Variouschanges may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a golf ball marker receiver; and anshoe attachment element, said element includes at least one openingconfigured to allow at least one golf shoe lace to pass through.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is configured so as tofully surround said at least one gold shoe lace pass through saidopening.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, said element further comprising atleast one arm configured to allow at least one golf shoe lace to retainthereto.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one openingis further configured to retain a golf tee.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1,further comprising a divot tool receiver.
 6. An apparatus comprising: abase; a ball marker retainer; and a plurality of arms extending fromsaid base and connecting said retainer to said base, thereby forming anopening, said opening configured to retain at least one golf shoe lace.7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a divot tool retainer.8. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a golf tee retainer. 9.The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said base is elongate.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 6, wherein said apparatus fully surrounds said atleast one golf shoe lace.
 11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein saidarms symmetrically extend from said retainer.
 12. An apparatuscomprising: a first receiving means configured to receive a golf ballmarker; and an attachment means configured for attaching said apparatusto at least one golf shoe lace.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, whereinsaid attachment means is configured for attaching said apparatus to aplurality of golf shoe laces.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, whereinsaid attachment means is configured so as to fully surround said atleast one golf shoe lace.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12, furthercomprising a second receiving means configured to receive a golf tee.16. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a third receivingmeans configured to receive a divot tool.
 17. A golf shoe comprising: anupper; a sole; and a golf ball marker receiver, wherein said receiver isattached to said shoe.
 18. The golf shoe of claim 17, wherein saidreceiver is removably attached to said shoe.
 19. The golf shoe of claim17, wherein said receiver is fixedly attached to said shoe.